Abstract
Geriatric depression is strongly associated with increased healthcare costs, poor treatment outcomes, and mortality. Existing measures of depression in this population do not adequately account for more recent literature describing the presentation of depressed older adults, and thus may result in the underdiagnosis of depression in this population. The current study consistent of the development of a new, updated measure and examined its psychometric properties and potential clinical utility for diagnosing depression in adults over the age of 65. Participants were be recruited from multiple sources, including a community population from residential retirement communities, as well as inpatients and outpatients from two medical centers. All participants completed the 26-item Thorndyke Geriatric Depression Inventory (TGDI) and the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS). A subset of participant completed the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE). Factor analysis was used to identify a factor structure in the TGDI data, facilitated deletion of low quality items from the measure, and suggested that TGDI items represented a single factor of depression. Scores on the TGDI were then correlated with MMSE and GDS scores to establish convergent and divergent validity. A finalized version of the TGDI was developed for further research and validation.
LLU Discipline
Clinical Psychology
Department
Psychology
School
School of Behavioral Health
First Advisor
Boyd, Kendal C.
Second Advisor
Lee, Grace J.
Third Advisor
Morrell, Holly E. R.
Fourth Advisor
Nitch, Stephen R.
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Degree Level
Ph.D.
Year Degree Awarded
2015
Date (Title Page)
9-2015
Language
English
Library of Congress/MESH Subject Headings
Depression in old age; Depression -- Diagnosis -- Aged; Geriatric Assessment; Personality Inventory -- Aged; Geriatric Psychiatry; Psychometrics
Subject - Local
Geriatric depression; Measures of Depression; Geriatric Depression Scale; Mini Mental State Examination; Thorndyke Geriatric Depression Inventory
Type
Dissertation
Page Count
86
Digital Format
Digital Publisher
Loma Linda University Libraries
Copyright
Author
Usage Rights
This title appears here courtesy of the author, who has granted Loma Linda University a limited, non-exclusive right to make this publication available to the public. The author retains all other copyrights.
Recommended Citation
Thorndyke, Earl C. III, "Assessment of Geriatric Depression: Construction of a New Screening Inventory" (2015). Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects. 265.
https://scholarsrepository.llu.edu/etd/265
Collection
Loma Linda University Electronic Theses and Dissertations
Collection Website
http://scholarsrepository.llu.edu/etd/
Repository
Loma Linda University. Del E. Webb Memorial Library. University Archives